Shelagh Swanson Studio
Ivy Cottage
Bower
Wick
Caithness
KW14TL

info@shelaghswanson.com

Shelagh Swanson, a farmer's daughter from Caithness, graduated in 2004 from Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen with BA (Hons) Fine Art/Painting. After graduation she returned to her home county where she discovered a passion for glass, in particular Fused Glass, at the International Centre of Excellence, North Lands Creative. Subsequent masterclasses and residencies in the UK and USA strengthened her knowledge of the medium. After 10 years back in Aberdeen, she recently returned to her native Caithness where she creates work in both Painting and Glass to commission and for exhibition from her rural studio. Well known for her bold and expressive painterly aesthetic, her works are an emotional response to her surroundings. Recurring themes include her relationship to and experiences of landscape, especially of the Northern Highlands. Passionate about working within a community context, she has completed a number of participatory projects and residencies - including a 2017 Artist Residency at Duthie Park. Swanson now mainly works to commission with recent clients including The Silver Darling Restaurant, DC Thomson and Vattenfall. Her work is held internationally in both private and public collections

​

Her studio is currently being renovated and will be open by appointment in 2021.

​

​

1982 BORN - THURSO, CAITHNESS, SCOTLAND

​

TRAINING

2000 - 2004 BA(HONS) FINE ART/PAINTING GRAY'S SCHOOL OF ART, ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

2007 MASTERCLASS WITH SILVIA LEVENSON - NORTH LANDS CREATIVE GLASS, LYBSTER, SCOTLAND

2008 MASTERCLASS WITH ANN WOLFF - NORTH LANDS CREATIVE GLASS, LYBSTER, SCOTLAND

2009 MASTERCLASS WITH STEVE KLEIN AND KAFFE FASSETT - NORTH LANDS CREATIVE GLASS, LYBSTER, SCOTLAND

2014 TEACHER'S WORKSHOP - BULLSEYE GLASS CO, PORTLAND, OREGON, USA

2016  ART BUSINESS SPRING SCHOOL - CHRISTIES AUCTION HOUSE, LONDON

​

RESIDENCIES

2006 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE NORTH LANDS CREATIVE GLASS, LYBSTER, SCOTLAND

2008 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS MUSEUM, KINGSWINFORD, ENGLAND

2010 "THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT" RESIDENCY AT NORTH LANDS CREATIVE GLASS, LYBSTER, SCOTLAND - FACILITATED BY STEVE KLEIN AND RICHARD PARRISH

2015 "FIRST LIGHT" RESIDENCY AT THE ARCTIC GLASS STUDIO, BERLEVAG, NORWAY - FACILITATED BY STEVE KLEIN AND RICHARD PARRISH 

2017 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, DUTHIE PARK, ABERDEEN

​

SELECTED CORPORATE CLIENTS

​

Verus Petroleum

The Oil and Gas Technology Centre

Vattenfall

DC Thomson

Opportunity North East

The Press And Journal 

Scottish Business in The Community

Aberdeen And Grampian Chamber of Commerce

The Silver Darling Restaurant

Aberdeen City Council

NHS Grampian

The Archie Foundation

Grampian Food Forum

Stork Technical Services

Wood Group

Stronachs 

KCA Deutag

Imajica Brand Evolution

Jump Marketing

​

​

​

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

SOLO

2017 David Welch Winter Gardens, Aberdeen

2017 Musa, Aberdeen

2016 Pentland Fine Art, Aberdeen

2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Oil and Glass, Aberdeen

2012 Fonthill Road Gallery, Aberdeen

2009 Timespan Gallery - Helmsdale

2007 "The Mill" T3UK, Janetstown, Caithness

2006 "Dereliction" University of the Highlands and Islands, Wick Campus, Caithness

2004 ‘AB Alec Broon’ St Fergus Gallery, Wick, Caithness

​

GROUP

2021 Society of Scottish Artists - Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

2021 "Maggie's Extravaganza" Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh

2021 Lindsey Gallacher Studio, Thurso

2020 "Coming Home" Aberdeen Artists Society 

2020 North East Ensemble Eion Stewart Fine Art - Stonehaven

2018  2D Show - Aberdeen Artists Society Annual Exhibition- Haddo House

2018  "Experimental Use Of Space" Aberdeen Artists Society - Haddo House

2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020,2021 The Butterworth Gallery, Ballogie, Aberdeenshire

2017 "Our Bodies Imprint" Haddo Country Park

2017 Alien Hole Gallery, Inverness

2016 Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen

2016 Walton Fine Art, Knightsbridge, London

2016 Clifton Fine Art, Bristol

2016 Holburn Gallery, Aberdeen

2015 Three Man Show - Pentland Fine Art, Aberdeen alongside Joe Fan RSA and Philip Braham. 

2015 Group Show - Pentland Fine Art, Aberdeen

2014, 2015 Mixed Show - The Green Gallery, Buchlyvie, Stirlingshire

2013, 2014 Society of Aberdeen Artists Annual Exhibition - Aberdeen Art Gallery

2014 Mixed Show - "Artist of the Month" Larks Gallery, Ballater

2013, 2014 Mixed Show - The Richard Colquhoun Gallery, Aberdeen inc Calum Colvin RSA OBE, John Bellany RA RSA CBE, Alan Robb RSA, Derrick Guild RSA

2013 "Portfolio" St James's Place Wealth Management, Aberdeen

2011 Mixed Show - Rosemount Gallery, Aberdeen

2010 "Vitreous North" Timespan Gallery, Helmsdale

2010 "Take Thirty" 30 Year Anniversary Exhibition - Broadfield House Glass Museum, West Midlands

2001-2010 ‘Society of Caithness Artists, Thurso

2008 “Glass Paper Paint” North Lands Creative Glass, Lybster

2008 ‘Found In Translation’ Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge, West Midlands

2007 ‘Lassies’ St Fergus Gallery, Wick

2007 ‘Latitudes’ Recent Highland Graduates Exhibition. Tour of Highland Council Galleries

2006 ‘Contrasts’ Caithness Arts Festival Exhibition, St Fergus Gallery

2006 ‘Caithness Arts Week Exhibition’ Wick College, Caithness

2006 ‘Face North’  Lyth Arts Centre, Caithness

2006 Highland Open - Swanson Gallery, Thurso - St Fergus Gallery, Wick  - Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

2004 - 2006 Wick Town Improvements, Wick, Caithness

2006 "Two Caithness Artists" Flitch Art Gallery, Greater Dunmow, Essex 

2006 Inverness Airport Exhibition, Inverness

2006 ‘Makars in Progress’ Exhibition by ‘The Freswick Group’, St Fergus Gallery, Wick, Caithness

2005 ‘Cornucopia’ Swanson Gallery, Thurso, Caithness

2005 ‘Horizon - A showcase of Caithness Art and Crafts’ St Fergus Gallery, Wick, Caithness

2004 ‘New Generation Show’ Compass Gallery, Glasgow. 

2004 ‘RSA  Annual Student Exhibition’ The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh